How To Satisfy The Desire For Made To Order Manufacturing
We have come a long way from the Model T of the 1900s. In today’s world, people increasingly want products made just for them. Engineers are always slightly changing designs to enhance functionality. Consumers are always looking for the next “new thing.” Cost-effective specialization requires a process that allows economies of scale and individualization. One method of providing this combination is chemical milling. Here are some ways you can use this process to improve your specialization production.
Ornamental Forms
One of the easiest methods of specialization is creating ornamental forms or outlines. This is useful because it involves the economies of scale that come from mass production. Pieces are essentially made to the exact same specification without regard for the specific consumer. Each piece is then given made-to-order detailing to create unique products. The changes can be as small as the addition of a logo or can involve using a chemical bath to change the shape of a single area.
Component Integration
Specialization can also come in the form of component integration. Many companies compete in fields where multiple providers produce a single component of a larger system. Hubcap manufacturers, for example, must make products that can fit standard wheels. However, they also must find a way to stand out from the crowd in order to increase sales. The chemical milling process can allow creative styling and ensure component compatibility.
Incremental Specialized Etching
Milling through chemical baths or vapors also has the advantage of allowing incremental changes to design. An engineer testing the impact of a component on overall airflow may not want to create a new mold for each test. Instead, they may make a larger than needed scale model and use chemical reductions to make small changes. Further tests at each stage of the reductions can reveal the desired design. This final model could then be used for the final product.
Both fine reductive manufacturing and additive processes indicate a coming specialization age. Many consumers will desire products that meet their specific needs. Engineers will want to create new innovations on existing product templates. Marketing experts will need pieces that lend to stand-out advertising.
Companies will need ways to meet the needs of these consumers without the added price of creating brand new individual products. Creative use of chemical-based milling can provide a way to add a specialization to standard products.
